First of all, by carrier aircraft standards, the S-3 is not all that small. It's the second or third largest A/C that is operational on the carriers. The E-2 and C-2 are slightly larger and the C-2 can come aboard heavier. But then again, that's what Condi Rice and others came aboard on, and she was riding backwards and had couldn't see the landing coming. (Might be an advantage for some, but I'd rather see whats happening)
IMHO, helocopters, while more dangerous in general, are safer to land on the carrier than trapping aboard in a relatively heavy jet, especially one like the S-3 with no afterburners to help with the "go round" if you fail to catch a wire.